As February 16 approaches, Nigerians are not only arming themselves with their Permanent Voters Card (PVC), they are also embarking on pre-emptive spending on consumables to shield against post-election crisis.
This defensive shopping has helped to push demand slightly higher, especially on roadside markets in Lagos. The general election, which will have representatives elected into senatorial and presidential offices, will span only for a day but higher increase in shopping had started building up on Wednesday, intensified on Thursday and is expected to peak by Friday, said a foodstuff seller at Mushin Market.
From food materials shopping to beverages, cooking fuels, people have been stocking their homes to absorb any shock, findings show. Also, alternative power generating sets have been undergoing servicing while petrol tanks and kegs were getting filled.
Nigerians appear to be leaning on the sentiment that the election outcomes could potentially trigger bickering from different quarters and might result in scarcity and hike in the prices of these items.
“I’ve been increasing my food stock since the beginning of this week and I’m going to buy more. I’m not sure about what might happen after the election but I wouldn’t want it to affect me,” said Ehis Odekhian, a worker.
While some do not see the incumbent government calmly handing over power in the event of defeat, others have fears about the troubles that might arise from reactions of the opposition party to any unjustifiable clinching to power.
The problem of election violence is also top on the minds of electorate, as the breakout of chaos will discourage retailers from keeping their stores open during the period.
In 2015, the campaign environment was extremely competitive and tense according to the EU Election Observation Mission. Incidents were reported in all parts of the country resulting in more than 160 people killed in election-related violence since early January.
Prior to the elections, there was widespread anxiety about the elections holding and the risk of violence and the consequent threat to the stability. The largely peaceful outcome of the elections was partly attributed to the sustained efforts of the National Peace Committee (NPC) composed of eminent Nigerians and defeated former president Goodluck Jonathan handing over.
The NPC was formed to monitor compliance with the Abuja Accord, which was signed on 14 January by President Jonathan, General Buhari and 10 other presidential candidates and their parties to encourage peaceful elections and find mediated solutions to electoral disputes.
Similar tension that engulfed the air in 2015 seems to be revisiting this election and the last thing people want to do is to be short of food items.
